Two workers were killed in an explosion at Aeon Mall in Kumamoto, Japan, after they re-entered the building at their boss’s order following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake on 28 July, according to BBC. The blast occurred about an hour after the quake when some employees were still inside the building, while the two were among 38 people who died in the earthquake, with seven of the fatalities linked to Aeon Mall.

Employee Ordered to Re-enter Store

One of the deceased employees has been identified as 22-year-old Kurumi Otake, while the identity of the other remains undisclosed. According to local media, Otake encountered a relative outside the mall after the quake and explained she had to return inside at her company’s instruction to move money from the cash register into a safe. Two company representatives confirmed this account and apologized to Otake’s family at her wake on Sunday.

Habita, the company that operates the mall, has expressed regret over the orders given during the emergency — Habita sales director Goji Yuse said, “The instructions given at the time were inappropriate, and I truly regret them,” according to NHK. Yuse added at the wake, “Looking back now, it was not worth a life,” as reported by Kyodo.

Family and Community React

Otake’s family described her as someone with a “strong sense of justice,” and she had supported her mother after her father’s death three years ago, according to Asahi Shimbun. A relative of Otake said, “If she hadn’t gone back inside the store at that time, Kurumi would still be with her family today,” as reported by local media. Otake’s mother was quoted as saying, “My daughter is not coming back.”

Company and Government Response

Habita, founded in 1976, operates more than ten stores across several Japanese prefectures, and Company representatives were present at Otake’s wake and stated the company was considering how to proceed with the matter. The incident has raised questions about emergency protocols and employee safety, particularly in the context of natural disasters.

While most people had evacuated the Aeon Mall shortly after the quake, some employees remained inside when the explosion occurred, though the tragedy highlights the risks faced by workers following orders during crises and the importance of clear, life-saving emergency procedures.